Last night, the University of Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball team won the 2019 NCAA Women’s National Championship. After a dominating performance throughout the entire tournament, the Huskies were crowned the champions for the 12th time in school history. With the win, the Huskies become the first program in the history of NCAA athletics to win four consecutive national championships.
UConn’s Road to the Championship
The Huskies began the tournament as the number one seed and had a commanding run throughout the entire competition. UConn started the tournament off with a 90-52 win over 16th seeded Saint Francis (PA). The Huskies followed that up with a 94-65 win over 9th seeded Buffalo, which sent them to their fifth consecutive Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16, UConn defeated 5th seeded Iowa in a close game, 78-69.
From there, the Huskies continued their march to the championship with a 93-72 win over 3rd seeded Louisville in the Elite 8. UConn then took on 2nd seeded Mississippi State in the Final Four, where they cruised to an 81-59 victory. This set up the championship match against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Championship Game
The championship game between UConn and Notre Dame was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the best teams in the nation. Notre Dame had knocked off the Huskies in the regular season and were looking to once again take down the defending champions.
However, the Huskies were too much for the Fighting Irish as they dominated from the start and never looked back. UConn’s defense held Notre Dame to just 22 points in the first half, while their offense put up 40. The Huskies continued their strong play in the second half, as they outscored the Irish 45-30 to take home the victory and the national championship.
UConn’s Dominant Performance
The Huskies’ dominance throughout the tournament was on full display in the championship game. UConn was led by their star senior guard Katie Lou Samuelson, who had a game-high 21 points and five rebounds. Samuelson was joined by fellow senior Napheesa Collier, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Crystal Dangerfield also had an impressive performance, finishing with 15 points and six assists.
The Huskies’ defense was also a key factor in their championship run, as they held their opponents to an average of just 59.3 points per game. UConn’s defense was especially impressive in the championship game, as they held the Fighting Irish to just 52 points.
The Huskies’ Legacy
With the win, the Huskies cemented their legacy as one of the greatest college basketball dynasties in history. UConn has now won 12 national championships and four consecutive titles, which is a feat that had never been accomplished before. The Huskies also extended their NCAA record of consecutive wins to 125, as they have not lost a game since November of 2014.
UConn’s dominance of the women’s college basketball landscape is undeniable, and the Huskies have proven that they are the best team in the country. They have the most championships, the most consecutive wins, and now the first ever four-peat. With the win, the Huskies have established themselves as the gold standard in women’s college basketball.